For years, Adam didn’t visit his mother, growing distant as he built his own life. One day, he needed to pick up some papers from her house, only to find it abandoned and in ruins.
Diana Evans raised Adam on her own. Despite facing hardships, she worked tirelessly to provide for him and fund his education. When Adam graduated from high school, he chose to attend a university located across the country.
Though it saddened Diana, she supported Adam’s decision to study and live in New York while she stayed in California. They stayed in touch during his early years there, with Adam calling his mom whenever he had a spare moment.
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Diana never had the chance to visit Adam during his time in New York for college. The main way they stayed connected was through phone calls. While these calls became less frequent as time went on, Diana still cherished each one deeply.
As Adam approached his graduation, he picked up the phone to invite his mom. “Hey, mom!” he greeted her.
“Hi Adam, it’s wonderful to hear your voice! How are you doing?” she responded with enthusiasm.
“I’m doing great, mom! I’m calling because I’m finally graduating in two weeks. Can you come over?” he asked.
Upon hearing those words, Diana’s heart swelled with pride, and tears threatened to spill. She would do whatever it took to watch her beloved son walk across the stage to receive his diploma. “Absolutely, Adam. I’ll be there! I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m so proud of you!” she said with a beaming smile.
Once the call ended, Diana eagerly searched for flights to New York. However, she was taken aback by the steep prices. It quickly dawned on her that she didn’t have enough funds to cover both a round-trip ticket and a special graduation present for Adam.
To save up more money, Diana took on extra work as a babysitter, often working long hours to reach her goal faster. Once she had enough, she eagerly bought a plane ticket and headed to a department store to pick out a gift for Adam.
She wandered through the store for a few minutes before settling on a watch. Knowing that every professional needed a good timepiece, she felt it would be the perfect present for her son.
“Could you wrap it nicely with a ribbon?” she asked the saleslady. “It’s for my son’s graduation—he’s completing his degree at a top university in New York!” she beamed with pride.
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“That’s wonderful! You must be incredibly proud. Congratulations!” the saleslady said warmly as she carefully packed the watch.
A few days later, Diana eagerly traveled to New York. Upon arrival, Adam greeted her at the airport, and together they headed to his campus, where the graduation ceremony was about to begin.
Beaming with excitement, Diana pulled out her phone and began snapping photos. The moment Adam’s name was called, she jumped to her feet, cheering with all her heart. “That’s my son!” she shouted proudly.
After the ceremony, Adam met Diana and pulled her into a warm embrace. “Oh, son, congratulations!” she said, holding him tightly.
“Thanks, Mom. I couldn’t have done this without you,” he said with a smile. “Now, let’s go have a great dinner,” he added, guiding her toward the university exit.
That evening, they dined at an upscale steakhouse in New York, enjoying a wonderful meal together. At first, Diana hesitated, worried about the cost, but Adam quickly reassured her. “Mom, I worked a part-time job while studying—this dinner is on me. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” he said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
Tears welled up in Diana’s eyes as she felt immense gratitude for the kind and respectable man Adam had become. “I’m so proud of you, son,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “I got you a little something. It’s not much, but I hope you like it.”
She reached into her bag and pulled out a small gift box, handing it to Adam. “Mom, you didn’t have to get me anything,” he said softly as he carefully lifted the lid.
When Adam unwrapped the gift and saw the watch, his eyes widened in surprise. “This is beautiful, Mom. Thank you,” he said, grinning. “I’ll wear it to work every day—this way, I’ll always have a piece of you with me.”
That evening, mother and son spent hours talking, snapping photos, and soaking in the vibrant sights of New York, cherishing every moment together.
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After spending a few more days in New York, it was time for Diana to return to California. As she prepared to leave, a thought crossed her mind, reminding her that she’d be going back to an empty home. “Will you be visiting soon, Adam?” she asked, hoping for a reassuring answer.
“I’ll try, Mom,” Adam replied. “I have some job interviews coming up, so I’m not sure when I’ll be able to. But I promise to call,” he added with a comforting smile. Diana nodded, feeling at ease with his words.
Sadly, that promise didn’t last long. Adam had once called her every other day, but over time, the calls became less frequent—until they stopped altogether.
During one of their last conversations, Diana’s loneliness was evident. “I’ve lost quite a bit of weight, and I just don’t have much of an appetite anymore,” she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.
“You should take care of yourself, Mom. Go outside, talk to your neighbors, and take walks in the park,” Adam said, brushing off the concerns she subtly hinted at.
Over the years, Adam checked in on his mother occasionally, but his demanding job on Wall Street and his relationship with his model girlfriend took up most of his time. As a result, his calls became infrequent.
One day, he decided to start his own firm in New York. To do so, he needed certain documents from California—papers too important to be mailed. At the last minute, he booked a flight home, choosing to surprise his mother. But when he arrived, he was completely unprepared for what he saw.
Their once-familiar house was now in ruins, overtaken by dust and cobwebs. The fences had collapsed, and the overgrown lawn looked as though it hadn’t been touched in years. Peering inside, he found nothing but empty rooms and remnants of broken furniture.
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Adam tried calling his mother repeatedly, but there was no answer. Growing anxious, he hurried over to the next-door neighbor’s house, hoping for some answers.
“Hi, Mr. Green,” he said the moment their longtime neighbor opened the door.
“Adam? Is that really you?” Mr. Green asked, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s me, Mr. Green,” Adam confirmed, his voice laced with guilt and worry. “Where’s Mom? What happened to our house?”
With a solemn expression, Mr. Green let out a sigh. “Oh, well… remember that big storm that hit California a couple of months ago? Our homes took a serious hit. Your mom didn’t have enough money to fix the damage, and she didn’t want to burden you… so she moved into a nursing home.”
“What? How could I not know about this?” Adam exclaimed in shock. “Where is her nursing home?” he asked urgently.
As soon as he got the address, he rushed over without hesitation. When he arrived, his heart sank at the sight of Diana—frail, seated in a wheelchair, looking much older than he remembered.
“Mom,” he choked out, his eyes brimming with tears.
“Adam? What are you doing here?” Diana asked, her voice laced with surprise.
Kneeling before her wheelchair, he broke down. “Mom, I’m so sorry for not being there for you. I should have paid more attention—I should have been there when you needed me the most,” he sobbed, guilt weighing heavily on him.
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“Adam, don’t be ridiculous. Get up,” Diana said, gently trying to lift her son. But he refused, clinging tightly to her knees. Overcome with emotion, she couldn’t hold back her tears. She had feared she’d never see him again, and now, having him right there, pleading for forgiveness, filled her heart with both relief and deep gratitude.
“I’m so sorry, Mom,” Adam said, shaking his head. “You’ll never have to be alone again. I’m going to live with you, and I’ll take care of you,” he vowed, his voice filled with determination.
This time, Adam stayed true to his word. He fully restored their old home and brought his mother out of the nursing home as soon as it was ready. Choosing family over convenience, he decided to launch his business in California instead of New York and invited his girlfriend to move in with them.
From then on, the three of them lived happily together. Adam and his girlfriend cared for Diana, ensuring she felt loved and cherished. In return, Diana helped around the house, preparing meals and handling chores while they worked, finding joy in being part of their daily lives once again.